EP0688867B1 - Enzyme thermostable de formation de saccharides non réducteurs, sa préparation et son utilisation - Google Patents

Enzyme thermostable de formation de saccharides non réducteurs, sa préparation et son utilisation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0688867B1
EP0688867B1 EP95304426A EP95304426A EP0688867B1 EP 0688867 B1 EP0688867 B1 EP 0688867B1 EP 95304426 A EP95304426 A EP 95304426A EP 95304426 A EP95304426 A EP 95304426A EP 0688867 B1 EP0688867 B1 EP 0688867B1
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Prior art keywords
trehalose
reducing
enzyme
saccharides
resultant
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EP0688867A3 (fr
EP0688867A2 (fr
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Tetsuya Nakada
Hiroto Chaen
Toshiyuki Sugimoto
Toshio Miyake
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Hayashibara Seibutsu Kagaku Kenkyujo KK
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Hayashibara Seibutsu Kagaku Kenkyujo KK
Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories Co Ltd
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N9/00—Enzymes; Proenzymes; Compositions thereof; Processes for preparing, activating, inhibiting, separating or purifying enzymes
    • C12N9/0004—Oxidoreductases (1.)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
    • C12P19/00—Preparation of compounds containing saccharide radicals
    • C12P19/14—Preparation of compounds containing saccharide radicals produced by the action of a carbohydrase (EC 3.2.x), e.g. by alpha-amylase, e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N9/00—Enzymes; Proenzymes; Compositions thereof; Processes for preparing, activating, inhibiting, separating or purifying enzymes
    • C12N9/14—Hydrolases (3)
    • C12N9/24—Hydrolases (3) acting on glycosyl compounds (3.2)
    • C12N9/2402—Hydrolases (3) acting on glycosyl compounds (3.2) hydrolysing O- and S- glycosyl compounds (3.2.1)
    • C12N9/2405—Glucanases
    • C12N9/2408—Glucanases acting on alpha -1,4-glucosidic bonds
    • C12N9/2411—Amylases
    • C12N9/2428—Glucan 1,4-alpha-glucosidase (3.2.1.3), i.e. glucoamylase
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12Y—ENZYMES
    • C12Y302/00—Hydrolases acting on glycosyl compounds, i.e. glycosylases (3.2)
    • C12Y302/01—Glycosidases, i.e. enzymes hydrolysing O- and S-glycosyl compounds (3.2.1)
    • C12Y302/01003—Glucan 1,4-alpha-glucosidase (3.2.1.3), i.e. glucoamylase

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a novel thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme, and its preparation and uses, more particularly, to a novel thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme which forms a non-reducing saccharide having a trehalose structure as an end unit when allowed to act on one or more reducing partial starch hydrolysates having a degree of glucose polymerization of 3 or higher, and to its preparation.
  • the present invention further relates to a non-reducing saccharide having a trehalose structure as an end unit which is preparable by utilizing the thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme and to a relatively-low reducing saccharide containing the non-reducing saccharide, as well as to a trehalose prepared from these saccharides and to a composition containing these non-reducing saccharides.
  • Trehalose or ⁇ ⁇ -trehalose is known as a non-reducing saccharide consisting of glucose units. As described in Advance in Carbohydrate Chemistry, Vol.18, pp.201-225 (1963), published by Academic Press, USA, and in Applied and Environmental Microbiology , Vol.56, pp.3,213-3,215 (1990), trehalose widely exists in microorganisms, mushrooms, insects, etc., through the content is relatively low. Since trehalose is a non-reducing saccharides, it does neither induce the amino-carbonyl reaction with the substances containing amino groups such as amino acids and proteins nor alter amino acid-containing substances. Thus, trehalose is expected to be used without fear of causing an unsatisfiable browning and deterioration. Because of these, it has been in great demand to establish an industrial-scale preparation of trehalose.
  • partial starch hydrolysate prepared from starch as a material such as liquefied starch, cyclodextrins and maltooligosaccharide, usually have a reducing end-group as an end unit and exhibited reducibility.
  • These partial starch hydrolysates are referred to as “non-reducing partial starch hydrolysates” in the present specification.
  • the reducing power of such reducing partial starch hydrolysates is generally expressed by "Dextrose Equivalent (DE) value", based on their dry weight.
  • the only way to break the relationship is a method to form non-reducing saccharides by hydrogenating reducing partial starch hydrolysates at a relatively-high pressure of hydrogen to convert their reducing end-groups into sugar alcohols.
  • This method requires a high-pressure autoclave and consumes large amounts of hydrogen and energy, as well as requiring a relatively-high level of control or safety facility to prevent disasters.
  • the material reducing partial starch hydrolysates and the resultant products differ because the former consists of glucose units and the latter, i.e. sugar alcohols of the resultant partial starch hydrolysates, consists of glucose and sorbitol units.
  • the sugar alcohols have some concern for causing temporary symptoms such as digestive disorder and diarrhea when administered to the body.
  • it has been in great demand to establish a method to decrease or even eliminate the reducing power of reducing partial starch hydrolysates without changing glucose units as a constituent saccharide thereof.
  • the present inventors have energetically studied enzymes which are capable of forming saccharides having a trehalose structure when allowed to act on starch hydrolysates.
  • the present inventors found that microorganisms of the genus Rhizobium, named as “Rhizoblum sp. M-11", and microorganisms of the genus Arthrobactor, named as "Arthrobactor sp.
  • Q36 isolated respectively from the soils as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No.349,216/93, are capable of producing novel non-reducing saccharide-forming enzymes which form non-reducing saccharides having a trehalose structure as an end unit when allowed to act on reducing partial starch hydrolysates having a degree of glucose polymerization of 3 or higher, and found that trehalose is readily preparable by allowing glucoamylase or ⁇ -glucosidase to act on the non-reducing saccharides having a trehalose structure as an end unit obtainable by this novel enzymes.
  • Enzymes derived from the microorganisms of the genus Rhizobium or the genus Arthrobactor are relatively-low in thermal stability.
  • these enzymes are utilized for preparing non-reducing saccharides having a trehalose structure as an end unit and trehalose, it is necessary to allow the enzymes to act on at a temperature of below 55°C.
  • thermostable enzyme can act on at a relatively-high temperature, contamination during the enzymatic reaction is less concerned and the retrogradation of partial starch hydrolysates is hardly caused.
  • Lama et al (Biotech Forum Europe 8:201-203) discloses a thermostable amylolytic enzyme from Solfolobus solfataricus which produces glucose and trehalose when allowed to act upon starch.
  • EP 0558213 A1 discloses a method of allowing ⁇ -amylase to act on an amylaceous substance to form neotrehalose.
  • WO 92/03563 discloses a method of preparing oligosaccharides containing trehalose, which method involves allowing cyclomaltodextrin-glucanotransferase to act upon starch in the presence of trehalose.
  • EP0764720Al forms part of the state of the art by virtue of Article 54(3) EPC. This discloses a transferase which acts on a maltooligosaccharide, the glucose residues of which are are ⁇ -1,4-linked.
  • the present invention provides a purified thermostable enzyme having the amino acid sequence at the N-terminal which forms a non-reducing saccharide having a trehalose structure as an end unit when allowed to act on a reducing partial starch hydrolysate having a degree of glucose polymerization of at least 3, said enzyme being stable up to a temperature of about 85°C when incubated at pH 7.0 for 60 min, and said enzyme being derivable from a microorganism.
  • the present invention further provides a non-reducing saccharide and its uses.
  • the present inventors have extensively screened microorganisms capable of producing a novel thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme, which forms non-reducing saccharides having a trehalose structure when allowed to act on reducing partial starch hydrolysates.
  • microorganisms of the genus Sulfolobus named as “Sulfolobus acidocaldarius” ATCC 33909 and ATCC 49426, and as “ Sulfolobus solfataricus” ATCC 35091 and ATCC 35092, produce a novel thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme which forms a non-reducing saccharide having a trehalose structure as an end unit when allowed to act on reducing partial starch hydrolysates and also is stable up to a temperature-of about 85°C, and found that the non-reducing saccharide can be readily prepared at the objective temperature of over 55°C when the thermostable enzyme is allowed to act on reducing partial starch hydrolysates.
  • thermostable enzyme to act on reducing partial starch hydrolysates, then subjecting the resultant non-reducing saccharides to the action of glucoamylase or ⁇ -glucosidase.
  • the present inventors accomplished this invention.
  • the present inventors established preparations of compositions such as food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals which contain the present non-reducing saccharides, relatively-low reducing saccharides containing the same and/or trehalose, and accomplished this invention.
  • the present invention relates to a novel thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme, and its preparation and uses.
  • the present invention further relates to a microorganism capable of producing said enzyme, non-reducing saccharides prepared with said enzyme, relatively-low reducing saccharides containing said non-reducing saccharides, trehalose prepared from these saccharides, and compositions containing either or both of these non-reducing saccharides and trehalose.
  • the present inventors have extensively screened microorganism capable of producing a novel thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme which forms non-reducing saccharides having a trehalose structure when allowed to act on reducing partial starch hydrolysates, and eventually found the objective microorganisms.
  • thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme which forms a non-reducing saccharide having a trehalose structure as an end unit when allowed to act on reducing partial starch hydrolysates and acts on at a temperature of over 55°C, is referred to as a thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme.
  • microorganisms of the genus Sulfolobus are capable of producing a novel thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme.
  • strains of the genus Sulfolobus and their mutants can be suitably used in the present invention as long as they produce the present thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme which forms the non-reducing saccharide having a trehalose structure as an end unit when allowed to act on reducing partial starch hydrolysates.
  • Any nutrient culture medium can be used in the invention as long as these microorganisms can grow therein and produce the present non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme:
  • synthetic- and natural-nutrient culture media can be used as the nutrient culture medium.
  • Any carbon-containing substance can be used in the invention as a carbon source as long as it is utilized by the microorganisms: Examples of such a carbon source are saccharides such as glucose, fructose, lactose, sucrose, mannitol, sorbitol, molasses and reducing partial starch hydrolysates; and organic acids such as citric acid, succinic acid and their salts. The concentrations of these carbon sources in nutrient culture media are appropriately chosen.
  • a preferable concentration is usually 20% or lower, more particularly, 5% or lower, d.s.b., in view of the growth of the microorganisms.
  • the nitrogen sources usable in the present invention are, for example, inorganic nitrogen compounds such as ammonium salts and nitrates; and organic nitrogen-containing substances such as urea, corn steep liquor, casein, peptone, yeast extract and beef extract.
  • the inorganic ingredients usable in the invention are, for example, calcium salts, magnesium salts, potassium salts, sodium salts, phosphates and other salts of manganese, zinc, iron, copper, molybdenum and cobalt.
  • the microorganisms usable in the invention are cultured under aerobic conditions at a temperature, usually, in the range of 40-95°C, preferably, in the range of 50-90°C; and at a pH in the range of 2-7, preferably, a pH in the range of 2-6.
  • the cultivation time used in the invention is set to a time required for the growth initiation of the microorganisms, preferably, 10-100 hours.
  • the concentration of dissolved oxygen in nutrient culture media is not specifically restricted, but usually in the range of 0.5-20ppm.
  • the means of controlling of aeration, stirring, aeration with oxygen, and increasing the inner pressure of a fermenter can be utilized.
  • the cultivation is carried out batchwise or in continuous manner.
  • the present enzyme After completion of the cultivation, the present enzyme is recovered from the cultures.
  • the activity of the present enzyme is found mainly in cells. It is preferable to purify these cells in usual manner and to use the resultant as a crude enzyme preparation.
  • a partially purified enzyme preparation which is almost free of concomitant enzymes, can be prepared by dialyzing a crude enzyme preparation which had been prepared by salting out a crude enzyme solution with ammonium sulfate and concentrating the resultant; and successively purifying the dialyzed solution on anion-exchange column chromatography using "DEAE TOYOPEARL® ", an anion-exchange resin; hydrophobic column chromatography using "BUTYL TOYOPEARL® ", a hydrophobic resin, all of which are products of Tosoh Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
  • a purified enzyme preparation exhibiting an electrophoretically single band can be prepared by applying the partially purified enzyme preparation to gel filtration chromatography using "ULTROGEL AcA 44® ", a resin for gel filtration which is a product of Sepracor Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts 01752, U.S.A.; and anion-exchange column chromatography using "MONO Q® ", an anion-exchange resin which is a product of Pharmacis LKB, Uppsala, Sweden.
  • thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme thus obtained has the following physicochemical properties:
  • thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme The activity of the present thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme is assayed as follows: One ml of an enzyme solution is added to 4ml of 1.25 w/v % maltopentaose in 20mM phosphate buffer (pH 5.5) as a substrate, and the mixture solution is incubated at 60°C for 60 min. The reaction mixture is heated at 100°C for 30 min to suspend the enzymatic reaction, and the reaction mixture is precisely diluted by 10 times with deionized water, followed by determining the reducing power of the diluted solution on the Somogyi-Nelson's method. As a control, an enzyme solution, which had been heated at 100°C for 30 min to inactivate the enzyme, is treated similarly as above.
  • the enzyme solution is mixed with copper liquor to suspend the enzymatic reaction, followed by determining the reducing power of the solution on the Somogyi-Nelson's method. With such a determination, one unit activity of the present enzyme is defined as the amount of enzyme which diminishes the reducing power of that of one micromole of maltopentaose per minute.
  • Reducing partial starch hydrolysates which can be used as a substrate for the present enzyme, are those prepared by partially hydrolyzing amylaceous substances such as starch, amylopectin and amylose by amylases or acids.
  • Such reducing partial starch hydrolysates can be prepared by the hydrolysis using amylases include reducing partial starch hydrolysates prepared by hydrolyzing amylaceous substances with ⁇ -amylase, maltotriose forming amylase, maltotetraose forming amylase, maltopentaose forming amylase and maltohexaose forming amylase as disclosed in Handbook of Amylases and Related Enzymes, published by Pergamon Press, Tokyo, Japan (1988).
  • debranching enzymes such as pullulanase and isoamylase can be arbitrarily used.
  • One or more maltooligosaccharides such as maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose and maltoheptaose can be favorably used as a reducing partial starch hydrolysate.
  • the concentration of the reducing partial starch hydrolysates used as a substrate in the invention is not specifically restricted. While the present enzymatic reaction proceeds even with a 0.1% solution of a substrate, the enzymatic reaction more favorably proceeds with solutions having a concentration of 2% or higher, preferably, those having a concentration of 5-50% of a substrate, d.s.b. Under these concentrations non-reducing saccharides having a trehalose structure are readily formed in a satisfactorily-high yield.
  • the reaction temperature used in the present invention enzymatic reaction can be set to a temperature at which the present enzyme is not inactivated, i.e. a temperature up to about 85°C, preferably, a temperature in the range of 55-70°C.
  • the reaction pH used in the present enzymatic reaction is controlled to in the range of 3-9, preferably, in the range of about 4-7.
  • the reaction time used in the present enzymatic reaction is adequately chosen depending on the conditions of the enzymatic reaction, generally, in the range of 0.1-100 hours in the case of using enzyme in an amount of about 0.1-100 units/g substrate, d.s.b.
  • the resultant reaction mixtures containing non-reducing saccharides have a reducing power much lower than those of the material reducing partial starch hydrolysates used as a substrate.
  • a reducing power much lower than those of the material reducing partial starch hydrolysates used as a substrate.
  • about 75% of the initial reducing power diminishes or the reducing power of the present reaction mixtures lowers to about 25% with respect to the initial reducing power.
  • the resultant reaction mixtures are in usual manner subjected to filtration and centrifugation to remove insoluble substances, and the resultant solutions are decolored with an activated charcoal, desalted with ion exchangers in H- and OH-form, and concentrated into syrupy products which can be dried into powdery products.
  • the powdery products can be readily prepared into non-reducing saccharides with the highest possible purity by purifying the powdery products with one or more methods, for example, column chromatographic fractionations such as ion-exchange column chromatography, column chromatography using an activated charcoal or a silica gel; separations using organic acids such as alcohols and acetone; and fermentation with yeasts or alkaline treatments to decompose and remove the remaining reducing saccharides.
  • ion-exchange column chromatography can be used in the invention as an industrial-scale preparation of the objective saccharides.
  • the objective non-reducing saccharides with an improved purity can be arbitrarily prepared by, for example, column chromatography using a strongly-acidic cation exchange resin as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos.23, 799/83 and 72,598/83 to remove concomitant saccharides.
  • any one of fixed-bed, moving bed, and pseudo-moving methods can be employed.
  • the present non-reducing saccharides having a trehalose structure thus obtained or relatively-low reducing saccharides containing the non-reducing saccharides can be hydrolyzed by amylases such as ⁇ -amylase, ⁇ -amylase, glucoamylase and ⁇ -glucosidase to control their sweetness and reducing power or to lower their viscosity; and the resultant products can be further treated with processings of hydrogenating the remaining reducing saccharides into sugar alcohols to diminish their reducing power.
  • amylases such as ⁇ -amylase, ⁇ -amylase, glucoamylase and ⁇ -glucosidase
  • trehalose is readily prepared by allowing glucoamylase or ⁇ -glucosidase to act on the present non-reducing saccharides or relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them.
  • a high trehalose content fraction is obtained by allowing glucoamylase or ⁇ -glucosidase to act on these saccharides to form a mixture of trehalose and glucose, and subjecting the mixture to the aforementioned purification such as ion-exchange column chromatography to remove glucose.
  • the high trehalose content fraction can be arbitrarily purified and concentrated into a syrupy product, and, if necessary, the syrupy product can be further concentrated into a supersaturated solution, followed by crystallizing it into hydrous- or anhydrous-crystalline trehalose and recovering the resultant crystal.
  • hydrous crystalline trehalose To prepare hydrous crystalline trehalose, an about 65-90% solution of trehalose with a purity of about 60% or higher, d.s.b., is placed in a crystallizer, and gradually cooled while stirring in the presence of 0.1-20% seed crystal at a temperature of 95°C or lower, preferably, at a temperature in the range of 10-90°C, to obtain a massecuite containing hydrous crystalline trehalose.
  • the continuous crystallization to prepare hydrous crystalline trehalose while concentrating a solution of trehalose under reduced pressure can be favorably used in the present invention.
  • Conventional methods such as separation, block pulverization, fluidized-bed granulation and spray drying can be employed in the present invention to prepare from the massecuite hydrous crystalline trehalose or crystalline saccharides containing it.
  • massecuites are usually subjected to a basket-type centrifuge to separate hydrous crystalline trehalose from the mother liquor, and, if necessary, the hydrous crystalline trehalose is washed by spraying thereto with a small amount of cold water to facilitate the preparation of hydrous crystalline trehalose with an increased purity.
  • crystalline saccharides with no or substantially free of hygroscopicity are readily prepared by spraying massecuites with a concentration of 60-85%, d.s.b., and a crystallization percentage of about 20-60%, d.s.b., from a nozzle by a high-pressure pump; drying the resultant products with a 60-100°C hot air which does not melt the resultant crystalline powders; and aging the resultant powders for about 1-20 hours while blowing thereto a 30-60°C hot air.
  • crystalline saccharides with no or substantially free of hygroscopicity are readily prepared by allowing massecuites with a moisture content of 10-20% and a crystallization percentage of about 10-60%, d.s.b., to stand for a period from about several hours to 3 days to crystallize and solidify the whole contents into blocks; and pulverizing or cutting the resultant blocks.
  • anhydrous crystalline trehalose can be prepared by drying hydrous crystalline trehalose to convert it into anhydrous one, it is generally prepared by providing a high trehalose content solution with a moisture content less than 10%; placing the solution in a crystallizer; keeping the solution in the presence of a seed crystal at a temperature in the range of 50-160°C, preferably, a temperature in the range of 80-140°C under stirring conditions to obtain a massecuite containing anhydrous crystalline trehalose; and crystallizing and pulverizing anhydrous crystalline trehalose by conventional methods such as block pulverization, fluidized-bed granulation and spray drying.
  • the resultant non-reducing saccharides and relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them according to the present invention have a relatively-lower reducing power and a relatively-higher stability than those of the material reducing partial starch hydrolysates, and because of such properties, these saccharides can be mixed and processed with other materials, especially, amino acids and amino acid-containing substances such as oligopeptides and proteins without fear of causing an unsatisfiable browning, smell and deterioration of the materials.
  • these saccharides Unlike reducing partial starch hydrolysates, these saccharides have a relatively-low reducing power and viscosity, and, among these saccharides, those with a relatively-low degree of average glucose polymerization have a satisfactorily-higher quality and more mild sweetness than those of the hydrolysates.
  • the present non-reducing saccharides are hydrolyzed by amylases such as ⁇ -amylase derived from pancreas into relatively-low molecular weight non-reducing oligosaccharides or maltooligosaccharides, and these oligosaccharides are readily hydrolyzed by ⁇ -glucosidase and intestinal enzymes into glucose and trehalose molecules.
  • the resultant trehalose is readily hydrolyzed by trehalase into glucose.
  • the present non-reducing saccharides and relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them, as well as trehalose can be utilized as an energy source by the body when orally administered.
  • saccharides and trehalose are not substantially fermented by dental carries-inducing microorganisms, and this renders them useful as a dental carries-preventing sweetener.
  • These saccharides and trehalose have properties such as osmotic pressure-controlling ability, filler-imparting ability, gloss-imparting ability, moisture-retaining ability, viscosity-imparting ability, ability to prevent crystallization of other saccharides, substantial no fermentability, and ability to present retrogradation of gelatinized starch.
  • the present trehalose can be utilized parenterally as a liquid feeding and infusion without fear of toxicity and side effect, preferably, utilized as an energy source by the body.
  • the present trehalose has a satisfiable stability and sweetness, and those in crystalline form can be arbitrarily used as a sugar coating material for tablets in combination with binders such as pullulan, hydroxyethyl starch and polyvinylpyrrolidone.
  • Anhydrous crystalline trehalose can be arbitrarily used as a desiccant for food products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and their materials and intermediates, and readily formed into compositions in the form of powder, granule and tablet with a satisfactory stability and quality.
  • the present non-reducing saccharides and relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them, as well as trehalose prepared from these saccharides can be arbitrarily used as a sweetener, taste-improving agent, quality-improving agent, stabilizer, excipient and desiccant in a variety of compositions such as food products, tobaccos, cigarettes, feeds, pet foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
  • the present non-reducing saccharides and relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them, as well as trehalose prepared from these saccharides, can be used intact as a seasoning for sweetening. If necessary, they can be used together with adequate amounts of one or more other sweeteners, for example, powdered syrup, glucose, maltose, sucrose, isomerized sugar, honey, maple sugar, isomaltooligosaccharide, galactooligosaccharide, fructooligosaccharide, lactosucrose, sorbitol, maltitol, lactitol, dihydrocharcone, stevioside, ⁇ -glycosyl stevioside, rebaudioside, glycyrrhizin, L-aspartyl L-phenylalanine methyl ester, saccharin, glycine and alanine; and/or a filler such as dextrin, starch and lactose.
  • the present non-reducing saccharides and relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them, as well as a powdery or crystalline trehalose prepared from these saccharides, can be used intact, or, if necessary they can be admixed with an excipient, filler and/or binder and formed into granules, spheres, short-rods, plates, cubes and tablets, prior to their use.
  • the present non-reducing saccharides and relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them, and trehalose prepared from these saccharides have a sweetness which well harmonizes with other materials having sourness, acidness, saltines, astringency, deliciousness and bitterness, and they are highly acid- and heat-resistant. Thus, they can be favorably used in food products in general as a sweetener, taste-improving agent and quality-improving agent.
  • the present non-reducing saccharides, relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them, and trehalose prepared from these saccharides can be used in seasonings such as amino acids, peptides, soy sauce, powdered soy sauce, "miso", “funmatsu-miso” (a powdered miso), “moromi” (a refined sake)", “hishio” (a refined soy sauce), “furikake” (a seasoned fish meal), mayonnaise, dressing, vinegar, “sanbai-zu” (a sauce of sugar, soy sauce and vinegar), “funmatsu-sushi-su” (powdered vinegar for sushi), “chuka-no-moto” (an instant mix for Chinese dish), “tentsuyu” (a sauce for Japanese deep-fat fried food), “mentsuyu” (a sauce for Japanese vermicelli), sauce, catsup, “yakiniku-notare” (a sauce for Japanese grilled meat), curry roux, instant stew mix, instant soup
  • the present non-reducing saccharides, relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them, and trehalose prepared from these saccharides can be favorably used for sweetening "wagashi” (Japanese cakes) such as “senbei” (a rice cracker)", “arare” (a glutinous rice cracker), “okoshi” (a millet-and-rice cracker), “mochi” (a rice paste) “manju” (a bun with a bean-jam), “uiro” (a sweet rice jelly), “an” (a bean jam), “yokan” (a sweet jelly of beans), “mizu-yokan” (a soft adzuki-bean jelly), “kingyoku” (a kind of yokan), jelly, pao de Castellan and “amedama” (a Japanese toffee); confectioneries such as bun, biscuit, cracker, cookie, pie, pudding, butter cream, custard cream, cream puff, waffle, sponge cake, doughnut, chocolate, chewing gum,
  • the present non-reducing saccharides, relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them, and trehalose prepared from these saccharides can be used in feeds and pet foods for animals such as domestic animals and poultry, honey bee, silkworm and fish to improve their taste preference.
  • These saccharides and trehalose can be arbitrarily used as a sweetener, taste-improving agent, quality-improving agent and stabilizer in other products in paste and liquid form such as a tobacco, cigarette, dentifrice, lipstick, rouge, lip cream, internal medicine, tablet, troche, cod liver oil in the form of drop, cachou, oral refrigerant, gargle, cosmetic and pharmaceutical.
  • the non-reducing saccharides, relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them, and trehalose prepared from these saccharides can be used as a quality-improving agent and stabilizer in biologically active substances susceptible to deterioration of their effective ingredients and activities, as well as' in health foods and pharmaceuticals containing biologically active substances.
  • lymphokines such as interferon- ⁇ , interferon- ⁇ , interferon- ⁇ , tumor necrosis factor- ⁇ , tumor necrosis factor- ⁇ , macrophage-migration inhibitory factor, colony-stimulating factor, transfer factor and interleukin 2
  • hormones such as insulin, growth hormone, prolactin, erythropoietin and follicle-stimulating hormone
  • biological preparations such as BCG vaccine, Japanese encephalitis vaccine, measles vaccine, live polio vaccine, smallpox vaccine, tetanus toxoid, Trimeresurus antitoxin and human immunoglobulin
  • antibiotics such as penicillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin and kanamycin sulfate
  • vitamins such as thiamine, riboflavin, L-ascorbic acid, cod liver oil, carotenoid, ergosterol and tocopherol
  • enzymes such as thi
  • the present non-reducing saccharides relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them, and trehalose prepared from these saccharides, the aforementioned biologically active substances are arbitrarily prepared into health foods and pharmaceuticals with a satisfactorily-high stability and quality without fear of losing or inactivating their effective ingredients and activities.
  • the methods to incorporate the present non-reducing saccharides, relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them and/or trehalose prepared from these saccharides into the above-mentioned compositions include conventional methods, for example, mixing, kneading, dissolving, melting, soaking, permeating, sprinkling, applying, coating, spraying, injecting, crystallizing and solidifying.
  • These saccharides and trehalose are usually incorporated into the above-mentioned compositions in an amount of 0.1% or higher, preferably, one % or higher, d.s.b.
  • thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius ATCC 33909
  • a liquid nutrient culture medium consisting of 0.1 w/v % peptone, 0.1 w/v % yeasts extract, 0.2 w/v % ammonium sulfate, 0.05 w/v % potassium phosphate, 0.02 w/v % magnesium sulfate, 0.02 w/v % potassium chloride and water, was prepared.
  • the cells thus recovered were suspended in 300ml of 10mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) and treated with "US 300", a supersonic cell disrupting apparatus commercialized by Nippon Seiki, Co., Ltd., Niigate, Japan, to disrupt cells.
  • US 300 a supersonic cell disrupting apparatus commercialized by Nippon Seiki, Co., Ltd., Niigate, Japan.
  • the resultant mixture was centrifuged at 10,000rpm for 30 minutes to obtain an about 300ml supernatant.
  • ammonium sulfate was added to give a saturation degree of 0.7, and the resultant solution was allowed to stand at 4°C for 24 hours, and centrifuged to obtain a precipitate.
  • the resultant precipitate was dissolved in 10mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.5), and dialyzed against a fresh preparation of the same hydrochloric acid buffer for 24 hours, and centrifuged to remove insoluble substances.
  • the resultant dialyzed solution (about 600ml) was divided into 2 portions which were then separately subjected to column chromatography using a column packed with about 350ml of "DEAE-TOYOPEARL® ", an ion exchanger commercialized by Tosoh Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
  • the objective enzyme adsorbed on the ion exchanger was eluted from the column with a linear gradient buffer supplemented 0.3M to OM sodium chloride, followed by recovering fractions with enzyme activity which was eluted from the column at about 0.1M sodium chloride.
  • the resultant fractions were dialyzed against a fresh preparation of 10mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.5) containing 1M ammonium sulfate.
  • the dialyzed solution thus obtained was centrifuged to remove insoluble substances, and the resultant supernatant was subjected to hydrophobic column chromatography using a column packed with 350ml of "HUTYL-TOYOPEARL® ", a hydrophobic gel commercialized by Tosoh Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
  • the enzyme adsorbed on the gel was eluted from the column with a linear gradient buffer containing 1M to OM ammonium sulfate, followed by recovering about 440 unit of the enzyme activity contained in the fractions which were eluted from the column supplemented with about 0.8M ammonium sulfate.
  • the partially purified enzyme preparation thus obtained exhibited the specific activity of about 20 units/mg protein.
  • the partially purified enzyme preparation was dialyzed against a fresh preparation of 10mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.5) containing 0.2M sodium chloride, and the dialyzed solution was centrifuged to remove insoluble substances.
  • the resultant supernatant was subjected to gel filtration chromatography using "ULTROGEL AcA 44® ", a resin for gel filtration commercialized by Sepracor Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts 01752, U.S.A., to recover fractions with the enzyme activity, and the resultant fractions were dialyzed against a fresh preparation of 10mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.5) and centrifuged to remove insoluble substances.
  • the resultant supernatant was subjected to column chromatography using a column packed with 10ml of "MONO Q® ", an ion exchanger commercialized by Pharmacis LKB, Uppsala, Sweden.
  • the enzyme adsorbed on the ion exchanger was eluted from the column with a linear gradient buffer ranging from 0.2M to OM sodium chloride, followed by recovering about 40 units of the enzyme activity contained in fractions which were eluted from the column at about 0.1M sodium chloride.
  • thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme obtained as the above purification, exhibited the specific activity of about 81 units/mg protein, and was determined for purity on electrophoresis using 10% SDS-polyacrylamide gel to exhibit a single protein band, and this revealed that the preparation was an electrophoretically homogeneous enzyme with a relatively-high purity.
  • thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme Physicochemical properties of thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme
  • aqueous solution containing 10 w/v % glucose, maltose, maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose or maltoheptaose as a substrate was prepared, and admixed with 2 units/g substrate, d.s.b., of the purified enzyme preparation obtained by the method in Experiment 1, and the resultant mixture was subjected to an enzymatic reaction at 60°C and pH 5.5 for 48 hours.
  • the reaction mixture was desalted and analyzed on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a column packed with "WAKOBEADS WH-T-330® ", a product of Wako Pure Chemical Industries Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.
  • the yields of non-reducing saccharides, prepared by allowing the present purified enzyme to act on the substrates, and reducing saccharides prepared from hydrolysates were respectively 30.2% and 27.6% in the case of using maltotriose as a substrate, 65.4% and 18.4% for maltotetraose, about 74-75% and 2-3% for maltopentaose and maltoheptaose having a degree of glucose polymerization 4 to 5, and it was revealed that non-reducing saccharides were formed at a relatively-high yield from maltooligosaccharides having a degree of glucose polymerization of 5 or higher, and also hydrolysates were formed in small quantity. Also, it was revealed that no saccharide was newly formed from glucose and maltose.
  • the present enzyme was determined for molecular weight on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis according to the method as reported by U.K. Laemmli in "Nature", Vol.227, pp.680-685 (1970) to exhibit an electrophoretically single band corresponding to about 69,000-79,000 daltons.
  • myosin 200,000 daltons
  • ⁇ -galactosidase 116,250 daltons
  • phosphorylase 97,400 daltons
  • serum albumin 66,200 daltons
  • ovalbumin 45,000 daltons
  • the present enzyme was isoelectrophoresed in a polyacrylamide gel containing 2% ampholyte, commercialized by Pharmacia LKB, Uppsala, Sweden. Also, the pH of the resultant gel was adjusted to and the pI of the enzyme was determined to give a pI of about 5.4-6.4.
  • thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme preparation obtained by the method in Experiment 1 was dialyzed against distilled water, and about 80 ⁇ g protein of each resultant preparation was used as a sample for determining the amino acid sequence containing the N-terminal.
  • the amino acid sequence was analyzed on "MODEL 473A", a protein sequencer, commercialized by Perkin-Elmer Corp., Instrument Div., Norwalk, U.S.A., to reveal the 10 amino acid residues from the N-terminal.
  • the partial amino acid sequence containing the N-terminal was as follows:
  • thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme from other microorganisms of the genus Sulfolobus
  • a nutrient culture medium was prepared, inoculated with microorganisms, and incubated for 42 hours in a fermenter by the same method in Experiment 1 except that Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (ATCC 49426), Sulfolobus solfataricus (ATCC 35091) and Sulfolobus solfataricus (ATCC 35092) were used as microorganisms in place of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (ATCC 33909).
  • the cells were recovered from about 170 liters of each resultant culture, disrupted with ultrasonic to obtain a supernatant, and the resultant supernatant was salted out with ammonium sulfate, dialyzed, and subjected to an ion-exchange column and hydrophobic column chromatography to obtain a partially purified enzyme preparation, followed by studying its properties.
  • the results were in Table 2.
  • non-reducing saccharides were prepared by using these partially purified enzyme preparations, and studied on their structures to find that, similarly as the thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (ATCC 33909), every enzyme preparation formed non-reducing saccharides having a trehalose structure as an end unit and a degree of glucose polymerization of 3 or higher when allowed to act on reducing partial starch hydrolysates having a degree of glucose polymerization of 3 or higher.
  • Table 2 Microorganism Enzyme activity in eluate from ion-exchange column (unit) Optimum temperature (°C) Optimum pH Thermal stability (°C) pH stability Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (ATCC 33909) 440 About 75°C About 5.0-5.5 Up to about 85°C About 4.5-9.5 Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (ATCC 49426) 370 About 75°C About 5.0-5.5 Up to about 85°C About 4.5-9.5 Sulfolobus solfataricus (ATCC 35091) 210 About 75°C About 5.0-5.5 Up to about 85°C About 4.0-8.5 Sulfolobus solfataricus (ATCC 35092) 95 About 75°C About 5.0-5.5 Up to about 85°C About 4.0-8.5
  • Examples A illustrate the preparation of the present non-reducing saccharides, relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them, and trehalose; and Examples B illustrate compositions containing one or more of these saccharides and trehalose.
  • a seed culture of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius (ATCC 33909) was inoculated in a nutrient culture medium and incubated by a fermenter for about 42 hours in accordance with the method in Experiment 1. After completion of the incubation, the resultant culture was concentrated with an SF-membrane and centrifuged to recover cells. The cells thus obtained were disrupted with ultrasonic, and from the suspension an supernatant was prepared, salted out with ammonium sulfate, dialyzed, and subjected to an ion-exchange column and hydrophobic column chromatography to obtain an enzyme solution containing 18.0 units/ml of a partially purified enzyme preparation having a specific activity of about 20 units/mg protein.
  • the suspension of potato starch having a concentration of 6 w/v % was gelatinized by heating, adjusted to pH 4.5 and 50°C, admixed with 2,500 units/g starch of isoamylase commercialized by Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories, Inc., Okayama, Japan, and subjected to an enzymatic reaction for 20 hours.
  • the resultant mixture was adjusted to pH 6.5, autoclaved at 120°C for 10 min, cooled to 60°C, admixed with 30 units/g starch of "TERMAMYL 60L", ⁇ -amylase commercialized by Novo Industri A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark, and subjected to an enzymatic reaction for 24 hours.
  • the reaction mixture was autoclaved at 120°C for 20 min, cooled to 65°C, adjusted to pH 5.5, admixed with one unit/g starch of the above thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme, and subjected to an enzymatic reaction for 96 hours.
  • the resultant mixture was kept at 97°C for 30 min, cooled and filtered.
  • the resultant filtrate was in usual manner decolored with an activated charcoal, and purified by desalting it with ion-exchange resins in H- and OH-form.
  • the resultant solution was concentrated into a syrup with a concentration of about 70 w/v % in a yield of about 90%.
  • the product exhibits a DE 24.6, and contains as a non-reducing saccharide 12.0% ⁇ -glucosyl trehalose, 5.5% ⁇ -maltosyl trehalose, 29.9% ⁇ -maltotriosyl trehalose, 1.5% maltotetraosyl trehalose and 2.2% ⁇ -maltopentaosyl trehalose, d.s.b.
  • the product has a mild and high-quality sweetness, as well as an adequate viscosity and moisture-retaining ability, and these properties render it arbitrarily useful in food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as a sweetener, taste-improving agent, quality-improving agent, stabilizer and filler.
  • the columns were heated to give the inner column temperature of 55°C, and fed with 5 v/v % of the saccharide solution against the resin while keeping at the temperature, and the saccharide solution was fractionated by feeding to the columns with 55°C hot water at SV 0.13 to elute fractions rich in glucose and maltose, followed by recovering fractions rich in non-reducing saccharides.
  • the fractions rich in non-reducing saccharides were pooled, purified, concentrated, dried in vacuo , and pulverized to obtain a powdery product containing non-reducing saccharides in a yield of about 64%, d.s.b.
  • the product exhibits a DE 4.8, and contains as a non-reducing saccharide 18.2% ⁇ -glucosyl trehalose, 7.9% ⁇ -maltosyl trehalose, 46.6% ⁇ -maltotriosyl trehalose, 2.3% maltotetraosyl trehalose and 3.4% ⁇ -maltopentaosyl trehalose, d.s.b.
  • the product in Example A-1 the product has a mild and high-quality sweetness, as well as an adequate viscosity and moisture-retaining ability, and these properties render it arbitrarily useful in food product, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as a sweetener, taste-improving agent, quality-improving agent, stabilizer and filler.
  • the resultant mixture was autoclaved at 120°C for 10 min, cooled to 55°C, admixed with 5 units/g starch of maltotetraose-forming amylase as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.240,783/63, commercialized by Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories, Inc., Okayama, Japan, and subjected to an enzymatic reaction for 6 hours.
  • the resultant mixture was admixed with 30 units/g starch of " ⁇ -amylase 2A", ⁇ -amylase commercialized by Ueda Chemical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan, and subjected to an enzymatic reaction at 65°C for 4 hours.
  • the resultant mixture was autoclaved at 120°C for 10 min, cooled to 45°C, adjusted to pH 5.5, admixed with 2 units/g starch of a thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme obtained by the method in Example A-1, and subjected to an enzymatic reaction for 48 hours.
  • the resultant mixture was kept at 97°C for 30 min, cooled and filtered to obtain a filtrate which was then decolored with an activated charcoal in usual manner, and purified by desalting it with ion-exchange resins in H- and OH-form, followed by concentrating the resultant solution to obtain a 70% syrup in a yield of about 90%, d.s.b.
  • the product exhibits a DE 17.1, and contains as a non-reducing saccharide 8.9% ⁇ -glucosyl trehalose, 29.3% ⁇ -maltosyl trehalose, 0.8% ⁇ -maltotriosyl trehalose, 0.7% maltotetraosyl trehalose and 0.7% ⁇ -maltopentaosyl trehalose, d.s.b.
  • the product has a mild and high-quality sweetness, as well as an adequate viscosity and moisture-retaining ability, and these properties render it arbitrarily useful in food product, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as a sweetener, taste-improving agent, quality-improving agent, stabilizer and filler.
  • the product contains as a non-reducing saccharide 10.9% ⁇ -glucosyl trehalose, 61.3% ⁇ -maltosyl trehalose and 1.0% ⁇ -maltotriosyl trehalose, exhibits a DE 2.5, and have a relatively-low reducibility.
  • the product in Example A-3 the product has a mild and high-quality sweetness, as well as an adequate viscosity and moisture-retaining ability, and these properties render it arbitrarily useful in food product, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as a sweetener, taste-improving agent, quality-improving agent, stabilizer and filler.
  • reaction mixture was heated at 97°C for 30 min to inactivate the remaining enzyme, diluted to give a concentration of about 20%, d.s.b., admixed with 10 units/g partial starch hydrolysate of "GLUCOZYME", glucoamylase commercialized by Nagase Biochemicals, Ltd., Kyoto, Japan, and subjected to an enzymatic reaction for 10 hours, followed by heating the resultant mixture to inactivate the remaining enzyme.
  • the mixture thus obtained was in usual manner decolored with an activated charcoal, desalted with an ion-exchange resin, and concentrated to give a concentration of about 60%, d.s.b.
  • the saccharide solution thus obtained contained 30.1% trehalose, d.s.b.
  • the saccharide solution was column chromatographed in accordance with the method in Example A-2 except that "CG 6000 (Na + -form)" a strongly-acidic cation exchange resin commercialized by Japan Organo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, was used as a resin for fractionation, followed by recovering a trehalose-rich fraction.
  • the fraction contained about 97% trehalose, d.s.b., and it was concentrated into an about 75% solution which was then placed in a crystallizer, admixed with a seed crystal and gradually cooled to obtain a massecuite with a degree of crystallization of about 45%.
  • the massecuite was sprayed from a nozzle equipped on the top of a spraying tower, at a pressure of 150kg/cm 2 .
  • the massecuite was simultaneously ventilated with 85°C hot air from the top of the spraying tower, and the resultant crystalline powder was collected on a metal wire netting conveyer provided on the basement of the spraying tower, gradually conveyed out from the tower while a stream of 40°C air was passing upwards through the metal wire netting.
  • the resultant crystalline powder was injected in an aging tower and aged for 10 hours while sending hot air thereto to complete the crystallization and drying, followed by recovering a powdery hydrous crystalline trehalose.
  • the product exhibits no substantial hygroscopicity and has a satisfiable handleability, and these properties render it arbitrarily useful in food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as a sweetener, taste-improving agent, quality-improving agent, stabilizer and filler.
  • a seed culture of Sulfolobus solfataricus (ATCC 35091) was inoculated in a nutrient culture medium and incubated by a fermenter for about 42 hours in accordance with the method in Experiment 3. After completion of the incubation, the resultant culture was concentrated with an SF-membrane and centrifuged to recover cells, which were then disrupted with ultrasonic to obtain an supernatant. The resultant supernatant was salted out with ammonium sulfate, dialyzed, and subjected to an ion-exchange column and hydrophobic column chromatography to obtain an enzyme solution containing 19.0 units/ml of a partially purified enzyme preparation having a specific activity of about 18 units/mg protein.
  • Example A-3 the suspension of potato starch having a concentration of 30% was treated with "TERMAMYL 60L", ⁇ -amylase commercialized by Novo Industri A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark, a maltotetraose forming amylase commercialized by Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories, Inc., Okayama, Japan, and " ⁇ -amylase 2A", ⁇ -amylase commercialized by Ueda Chemical Co., Tokyo, Japan, and autoclaved at 120°C, cooled to 65°C, admixed with 2 units/g starch of the above thermostable non-reducing saccharide-forming enzyme, and subjected to an enzymatic reaction for 64 hours.
  • "TERMAMYL 60L ⁇ -amylase commercialized by Novo Industri A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark
  • a maltotetraose forming amylase commercialized by Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories, Inc., Okayama, Japan
  • the resultant mixture was kept at 97°C for 30 min to inactivate the remaining enzyme.
  • the resultant solution was subjected to the action of "GLUCOZYME", glucoamylase commercialized by Nagase Biochemicals, Ltd., decolored, desalted and concentrated into an about 60% solution.
  • the saccharide solution thus obtained contained about 23% trehalose, d.s.b.
  • the saccharide solution was fractionated on column chromatography using a strongly-acidic action-exchange resin to obtain fractions rich in trehalose.
  • the fractions containing about 95% trehalose, d.s.b. were pooled, placed in a vessel and boiled down under a reduced pressure into a syrup with a moisture content of about 4.0%.
  • the syrup was placed in a crystallizer and admixed with one % of anhydrous crystalline trehalose, as a seed crystal, with respect to the syrup, d.s.b., followed by crystallizing the syrup at 95°C for 5 min while stirring.
  • the resultant was transferred to an aluminum container and aged at 100°C for 6 hours to form a block.
  • the resultant block was pulverized by a cutting machine and subjected to a fluidized-bed drying to obtain a powdery anhydrous crystalline trehalose with a moisture content of about 0.3 w/w %.
  • the product can be arbitrarily used in hydrous matters such as food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and their material and intermediates as a desiccant, as well as a white powdery sweetener with a high-quality and mild sweetness.
  • Example A-4 To one part by weight of a powdery product rich in non-reducing saccharides, obtained by the method in Example A-4, was homogeneously added 0.01 part by weight of " ⁇ G Sweet® ", ⁇ -glycosyl stevioside commercialized by Toyo Sugar Refining Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, and 0.01 part by weight of "Aspartame", L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methylester commercialized by Ajinomoto Co., Ltd., and the mixture was fed to a granulator to obtain a granular sweetener.
  • the product has a satisfactory sweetness and a 2-fold higher sweetening power of sucrose, and the caloric value is lowered to about 1/2 of that of sucrose.
  • the product having a satisfiable stability neither affects nor decomposes other sweeteners with a relatively-high sweetness when mixed with them, and because of this it can be suitably used as a low-caloric sweetener for low-caloric food products for fat persons and diabetics who are restricted to a reduced calorie intake.
  • the product scarcely forms acid and insoluble glucans when dental carries-inducing microorganisms act on it, and this renders it useful for sweetening food products directed to the prevention of dental carries.
  • sucrose solution was mixed with 30 parts by weight of a syrup containing non-reducing saccharides, obtained by the method in Example A-3, and the resultant mixture was concentrated by heating it in vacuo until the moisture content lowered to below 2%.
  • the concentrated solution was admixed with one part by weight of citric acid and adequate amounts of a lemon flavor and a coloring agent, and the resultant mixture was formed in usual manner to obtain the desired product.
  • the product is a high-quality hard candy having a satisfiable taste and biting property, as well as having no fear of changing the form and causing crystallization of sucrose.
  • Example A-1 Three parts by weight of a syrup containing non-reducing saccharides obtained by the method in Example A-1 and one part by weight of sucrose were dissolved in 100 parts by weight of fresh milk, and the resultant solution was sterilized by heating with a plate heater, and condensed into a 70% solution, followed by aseptically canning the resultant into the desired product.
  • the product with a mild sweetness and a satisfiable taste can be arbitrarily used as a seasoning for baby foods, fruit, coffee, cocoa and tea.
  • One hundred and seventy-five parts by weight of defatted milk, 80 parts by weight of a high non-reducing saccharide content powder prepared by the method in Example A-2, and 50 parts by weight of a high lactosucrose content powder disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.281,795/92 were dissolved in 1,200 parts by weight of water, and the resultant solution was sterilized by heating at 65°C for 30 min, cooled to 40°C, admixed in usual manner with 30 parts by weight of lactic acid bacteria as a starter, and incubated at 37°C for 8 hours to obtain a beverage containing lactic acid bacteria.
  • the product is a beverage containing lactic acid bacteria with a satisfiable taste and flavor.
  • the product containing oligosaccharides stably retains lactic acid bacteria and promotes the growth of bifid bacteria.
  • the resultant mixture was pulverized, fed to a fluidized-bed granulator and granulated for 30 min by spraying it with a syrup containing non-reducing saccharides as a binder obtained by the method in Example A-1 while sending to the contents 40°C air at a flow amount of 150m 3 .
  • the resultant granules were weighed and packaged to obtain the desired product.
  • the product contains 30% orange juice, d.s.b.
  • the product was stable for a relatively-long period of time without giving an unsatisfiable taste and smell.
  • One hundred parts by weight of corn starch, 100 parts by weight of a syrup containing non-reducing saccharides obtained by the method in Example A-3, 80 parts by weight of maltose, 20 parts by weight of sucrose, and one party by weight of salt were mixed to homogeneity.
  • the resultant mixture was admixed with 280 parts by weight of egg, and gradually added with 1,000 parts by weight of a boiling milk.
  • the mixture thus obtained was continued stirring while heating, and the heating was stopped when the corn starch in the mixture was completely gelatinized to give the whole contents semitransparent, followed by cooling the resultant and adding thereto an adequate amount of a vanilla flavor.
  • the resultant mixture was weighed, injected and packaged to obtain the desired product.
  • the product has a smooth surface and gloss, as well as a mild taste and sweetness.
  • the product free from discoloration induced by boiling has a satisfiable taste and flavor, and these render it useful as a material an for bean-jam buns, buns with bean-jam filling, dumplings, bean-jam-filled wafers, sherbets and ice creams.
  • One hundred parts by weight of wheat powder, 2 parts by weight of yeast, 5 parts by weight of sugar, one part by weight of a powder containing non-reducing saccharides obtained by the method in Example A-2, 0.1 part by weight of inorganic yeast food were kneaded with water in usual manner to effect fermentation at 26°C for 2 hours, and further aged for 30 min, followed by baking up the resultant.
  • the product is a high-quality bread having a satisfiable hue and rising, as well as a satisfiable elasticity and mild sweetness.
  • ham meat slices was added and ground to homogeneity 15 parts by weight of salt and 3 parts by weight of potassium nitrate, and the resultant slices were piled up and allowed to stand overnight in a cold-storage room. Thereafter, the resultant slices were first soaked for 7 days in a cold-storage room in a salt solution consisting of 500 parts by weight of water, 100 parts by weight of salt, 3 parts by weight of potassium nitrate, 40 parts by weight of a powder rich in non-reducing saccharides prepared by the method in Example A-4, and an adequate amount of a peppermint, then washed with cold water in usual manner, tied up, smoked, cooked, cooled and packaged to obtain the desired product.
  • the product is a high-quality ham having a satisfiable hue; taste and flavor.
  • Egg yolks prepared from fresh eggs were sterilized at 60-64°C by a plate heater, and the resultant liquid was admixed with 4 parts by weight of a powdery anhydrous crystalline trehalose prepared by the method in Example A-6 with respect to one part by weight of the liquid.
  • the resultant mixture was transferred to a vessel, allowed to stand overnight to form a block while the anhydrous crystalline trehalose was allowing to convert into hydrous crystalline trehalose.
  • the block thus obtained was pulverized by a cutting machine to obtain a powdery egg yolk.
  • the product can be arbitrarily used as a material for confectioneries for premixes, sherbets, ice cream and emulsifiers, as well as baby foods and therapeutic nutrition in the form of oral and intubation feedings.
  • the product can be also used as a skin refiner and hair restorer.
  • the resultant solution was admixed with 2 parts by weight of L-lactic acid, 5 parts by weight of 1,3-butylene glycol and 66 parts by weight of refined water, and the resultant mixture was emulsified by a homogenizer and admixed with an adequate amount of a flavor while stirring to obtain a cosmetic cream.
  • the product exhibits an antioxidant activity and has a relatively-high stability, and these render it arbitrarily useful as a high-quality sunscreen, skin-refining agent and skin-whitening agent.
  • the resultant eluate was filtered by a membrane, and the filtrate was dehydrated by about 20-fold volumes of "FINETOSE® ", an anhydrous crystalline maltose powder commercialized by Hayashibara Shoji Inc., Okayama, Japan, followed by pulverizing the resultant dehydrated product, and tabletting the resultant by a tabletting machine into tablets containing about 150 units of the natural human interferon- ⁇ per one tablet, 200mg weight.
  • the product can be orally administered as a sublingual tablet to patients at a dose of 1-10 tablets/adult/day, and arbitrarily used to treat viral diseases, allergys, rheumatisms, diabetes and malignant tumors.
  • the product can be suitably used as a therapeutic agent for AIDS and hepatitis, the number of patients of which has been remarkably increased.
  • the trehalose and anhydrous crystalline maltose incorporated in the product act as a stabilizer, so that the natural human interferon- ⁇ is well retained its activity for a relatively-long period of time even at an ambient temperature.
  • the product has a relatively-high shock tolerance and retains its high quality for a relatively-long period of time.
  • the present novel thermostable non-reducing saccharide readily realizes an enzymatic reaction at the temperature of over 55°C wherein partial starch hydrolysates are converted at a satisfactorily-high yield into non-reducing saccharides having the same degree of glucose polymerization as that of the partial starch hydrolysates without a fear of contamination.
  • the non-reducing saccharides which can be readily separated and purified, and relatively-low reducing saccharides containing them, as well as trehalose prepared from these saccharides, have a satisfiable stability, quality and mild sweetness.
  • non-reducing saccharides can be arbitrarily used in compositions such as food products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as a sweetener, taste-improving agent, quality-improving agent, stabilizer and filler.
  • the present invention provides a novel technique to prepare in an industrial-scale and at a relatively-low cost non-reducing saccharides having a trehalose structure as an end unit, which could not have been readily obtained in spite of their great demands, by using reducing partial starch hydrolysates prepared from starch as a cheap and abundant source, as well as to prepare relatively-low reducing saccharides containing the non-reducing saccharides, and trehalose prepared from these saccharides.
  • the present invention has a great influence on the fields such as food-, cosmetic- and pharmaceutical-industries, as well as forestry, fisheries, and agricultural-, livestock- and chemical-industries. Thus, the influence of the present invention on these fields is unfathomable.

Claims (15)

  1. Enzyme thermostable purifiée présentant la séquence d'acides aminés au niveau du N-terminal :
    Figure imgb0005
    qui forme un saccharide non réducteur ayant une structure de tréhalose comme unité terminale lorsqu'elle est laissée agir sur un hydrolysat d'amidon partiel réducteur ayant un degré de polymérisation de glucose d'au moins 3, ladite enzyme étant stable jusqu'à une température d'environ 85°C lorsqu'elle est incubée à pH 7,0 pendant 60 minutes, et ladite enzyme pouvant être dérivée à partir d'un micro-organisme.
  2. Enzyme purifiée selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle ledit micro-organisme est un membre choisi dans le groupe constitué de ceux du genre Sulfolobus et des mutants de celui-ci.
  3. Enzyme purifiée selon la revendication 1, qui possède les propriétés physico-chimiques suivantes :
    (1) Action
    Formation d'un saccharide non réducteur ayant une structure de tréhalose comme unité terminale lorsqu'elle est laissée agir sur un hydrolysat d'amidon partiel réducteur ayant un degré de polymérisation de glucose d'au moins 3 ;
    2) Poids moléculaire
    Environ 69 000 à 79 000 daltons
    Électrophorèse en gel de polyacrylamide (SDS-PAGE) ;
    (3) Point isoélectrique (pI)
    Environ 5,4 à 6,4 à l'iso-électrophorèse en utilisant un ampholyte ;
    (4) Température optimale
    Environ 75°C lorsqu'elle est incubée à pH 5,5 pendant 60 minutes ;
    (5) pH optimal
    Environ 5,0 à 5,5 lorsqu'elle est incubée à 60°C pendant 60 minutes ;
    (6) Stabilité thermique
    Stable jusqu'à une température d'environ 85°C lorsqu'elle est incubée à pH 7,0 pendant 60 minutes ; et
    (7) Stabilité de pH
    Stable à un pH d'environ 4,0 à 9,5 lorsqu'elle est incubée à 25°C pendant 16 heures.
  4. Procédé de préparation de l'enzyme selon la revendication 1, qui comprend la mise en culture dans un milieu de culture nutritif d'un micro-organisme capable de produire ladite enzyme, et la récupération de ladite enzyme à partir de la culture résultante.
  5. Procédé selon la revendication 4, dans lequel ledit micro-organisme est un membre choisi dans le groupe constitué de ceux du genre Sulfolobus et des mutants de celui-ci.
  6. Procédé de production d'un saccharide non réducteur ayant une structure de tréhalose qui comprend les étapes consistant à :
    (a) laisser l'enzyme selon la revendication 1 agir sur une solution contenant un hydrolysat d'amidon partiel réducteur pour former un saccharide non réducteur ayant une structure de tréhalose comme unité terminale ; et
    (b) récupérer la solution résultante contenant ledit saccharide non réducteur et l'hydrolysat d'amidon partiel réducteur intact.
  7. Procédé selon la revendication 6, dans lequel ledit hydrolysat d'amidon partiel réducteur a un degré de polymérisation de glucose d'au moins 3.
  8. Procédé selon la revendication 7, dans lequel ledit hydrolysat d'amidon partiel réducteur peut être obtenu par l'hydrolyse partielle d'amidon.
  9. Procédé selon la revendication 6, dans lequel la solution résultante dans l'étape (b) est encore soumise à la chromatographie sur colonne en utilisant une résine échangeuse de cations fortement acide pour augmenter la teneur dudit saccharide non réducteur.
  10. Procédé de production d'un produit alimentaire, cosmétique ou pharmaceutique, lequel procédé comprend :
    (a) une étape de production, selon l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 9, d'un saccharide non réducteur ayant une structure de tréhalose ; et
    (b) l'incorporation dudit saccharide non réducteur dans une matière destinée au dit produit alimentaire, cosmétique ou pharmaceutique.
  11. Procédé de préparation de tréhalose qui comprend les étapes consistant à :
    (a) laisser l'enzyme selon la revendication 1 agir sur une solution contenant un hydrolysat d'amidon partiel réducteur pour former un saccharide non réducteur ayant une structure de tréhalose comme unité terminale;
    (b) laisser une glucamylase ou une α-glucosidase agir sur le saccharide non réducteur généré pour former un tréhalose ; et
    (c) récupérer la solution résultante contenant le tréhalose conjointement à l'hydrolysat d'amidon partiel réducteur intact.
  12. Procédé selon la revendication 11, dans lequel l'hydrolysat d'amidon partiel réducteur a un degré de polymérisation de glucose d'au moins 3.
  13. Procédé selon la revendication 11, dans lequel ledit tréhalose est un membre choisi dans le groupe constitué de tréhalose cristallin hydraté, de tréhalose cristallin anhydre, et de mélange de ceux-ci.
  14. Procédé selon la revendication 11, dans lequel la solution résultante dans l'étape (c) est encore soumise à la chromatographie sur colonne en utilisant une résine échangeuse de cations fortement acide pour augmenter la teneur du tréhalose.
  15. Procédé de production d'un produit alimentaire, cosmétique ou pharmaceutique, lequel procédé comprend :
    (a) une étape de production, selon l'une quelconque des revendications 11 à 14, de tréhalose ; et
    (b) l'incorporation dudit tréhalose dans une matière destinée au dit produit alimentaire, cosmétique ou pharmaceutique.
EP95304426A 1994-06-24 1995-06-23 Enzyme thermostable de formation de saccharides non réducteurs, sa préparation et son utilisation Expired - Lifetime EP0688867B1 (fr)

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JP3793590B2 (ja) * 1994-06-27 2006-07-05 株式会社林原生物化学研究所 非還元性糖質とその製造方法並びに用途
JP3662972B2 (ja) * 1994-06-27 2005-06-22 株式会社林原生物化学研究所 非還元性糖質とその製造方法並びに用途
JP4033897B2 (ja) * 1994-06-15 2008-01-16 キリンホールディングス株式会社 新規トランスフェラーゼ及びアミラーゼ、それらの製造法及び利用、並びに該新規酵素類の遺伝子
DE69529026T2 (de) * 1994-07-19 2003-07-17 Hayashibara Biochem Lab Trehalose, ihre Herstellung und ihre Verwendung
JP3557288B2 (ja) * 1994-07-21 2004-08-25 株式会社林原生物化学研究所 還元性澱粉糖から末端にトレハロース構造を有する非還元性糖質を生成する組換え型耐熱性酵素
JP3778991B2 (ja) * 1996-03-04 2006-05-24 株式会社林原生物化学研究所 マルトオリゴシルツラノース及びマルトオリゴシルパラチノース含有糖質とその製造方法並びに用途
JP4153057B2 (ja) * 1997-03-10 2008-09-17 中国化薬株式会社 Ｄ−グルクロノラクトンの製造方法
JP4203159B2 (ja) 1997-12-09 2008-12-24 株式会社林原生物化学研究所 神経機能調節剤
JP4295840B2 (ja) * 1997-12-09 2009-07-15 株式会社林原生物化学研究所 血行改善剤
JP3958884B2 (ja) 1998-09-11 2007-08-15 株式会社林原生物化学研究所 非還元性糖質生成酵素及びトレハロース遊離酵素ならびに該酵素を用いる糖質の製造方法
JP4652540B2 (ja) 2000-03-02 2011-03-16 株式会社林原生物化学研究所 体臭抑制剤とその用途
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AU2003226627A1 (en) * 2003-03-28 2004-10-18 Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research A process for preparation of thermostable enzyme
CN1953755A (zh) * 2004-05-17 2007-04-25 株式会社林原生物化学研究所 强化接触水系环境的生物的生命活动和/或扩张生命活动适合区域的方法
JP2010159085A (ja) * 2008-12-12 2010-07-22 Mitsuya Corporation:Kk 装飾品、食品または内容物収容部が可視光透過可能な容器
US9579388B2 (en) 2012-11-29 2017-02-28 Rene Gauthier System and method for alleviating the appearance of scars and/or scar tissue
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ATE329016T1 (de) 2006-06-15
CA2151219A1 (fr) 1995-12-25
CA2151219C (fr) 2008-12-02
KR100391375B1 (ko) 2003-10-17
TW419522B (en) 2001-01-21
DE69535029D1 (de) 2006-07-20
US5714368A (en) 1998-02-03
AU2051195A (en) 1996-01-11
KR960001113A (ko) 1996-01-25
IL114044A0 (en) 1995-11-27
IL114044A (en) 2000-01-31
AU695080B2 (en) 1998-08-06
EP0688867A2 (fr) 1995-12-27
DE69535029T2 (de) 2007-01-11

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